Gamecocks aim to stay among nation's best

COLUMBIA- In reaching the top 10, Steve Spurrier has accomplished something seldom done before at South Carolina. Now, the Gamecocks' coach is trying for something even rarer still - staying among college football's best.

It seems that any time a South Carolina team rises into the sport's highest rankings, it tumbles back out soon after. The seventh-ranked Gamecocks (5-1, 3-1 Southeastern Conference) hope to avoid repeating their checkered history when they travel to North Carolina on Saturday.

In 2001, the Gamecocks moved to No. 9 with their 5-0 start but fell out of the top 10 the following week after a 10- 7 defeat at Arkansas.

They spent three weeks at No. 8 during the 1988 season before a loss at Georgia Tech knocked them back down. The greatest high - and lowest low - for many South Carolina fans came in 1984 when the late Joe Morrison led his team to a 9-0 mark and No. 2 ranking.

But losses to Navy (38-21) and Oklahoma State (21-14), in the Gator Bowl, dented the program's only 10-win season.

Spurrier knows a thing or two about sticking around the top 10. During his 12 ultrasuccessful seasons at Florida, the Gators had streaks of 60, 32 and 19 straight games in which they were ranked among the country's 10 best.

Spurrier is happy his Gamecocks can enjoy their lofty position. He'll remind them, though, ''about the history of South Carolina - when they're ranked in the top 10, they usually get beat the next week,'' Spurrier said. "We mention history a little bit,'' he said. ''I think you have to learn a little bit from history. But there's no guarantee we can avoid that. No guarantee at all.''

Especially when even Spurrier's scratching his head a little about his team's success so far this year.

The coach pointed out the Gamecocks rank next-to-last in the SEC in rushing and in stopping the run.